FACT CHECK: The number of Americans unemployed

Nov. 3, 2012

Written by

Jeffrey Bruner

Gannett

Answer: There are 12.3 million people unemployed, down about 200,000 from a month ago. Another 2.4 million people have stopped looking for work, either because they got discouraged, went back to school or decided to retire early.

Mitt Romney likes to say there are 23 million unemployed, but that number includes 8.3 million people who are working part time but would like full time jobs. Before the recession there were about 4 million workers in this situation, according to the Washington Post.

Jeffrey Bruner is the wire chief for the Gannett National Wire Desk in Des Moines.